CFPatriots.com

CF Patriots 13, CCBC-Dundalk 5 (Baseball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:57:00 +0000

Central Florida stretched its baseball win streak to four on Monday with a 13-5 rout of visiting CCBC-Dundalk.

Josh Whitchurch and Yoenny Gonzalez had 3 RBI apiece in the onslaught. Click here for the full box score.

The Patriots (12-6) continue their seven-game homestand on Wednesday at 3 p.m. against Hillsborough and a Saturday noon doubleheader against Brevard.

CF Patriots 68, Daytona State 66 (MBB)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:36:00 +0000

Central Florida kept pace in the men's basketball Mid-Florida Conference race Saturday with a 68-66 win at Daytona State.

The victory keeps the Patriots (21-7, 8-2 MFC) on track to defend their MFC championship; should CF finished tied with Santa Fe in the conference standings, CF will claim the title and advance to the postseason by virtue of its head-to-head series edge over the Saints.

Eugene McCrory scored 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting and added 8 rebounds, while point guard Hunter Williams scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Will Saunders scored 10 points off the bench and Jeremiah Eason contributed 8 points and 11 rebounds.

The Patriots host St. Johns River on Wednesday at 8 pm in their home finale, then travel to FSC-Jacksonville on Saturday, Feb. 25 to wrap up the regular season.

CF Patriots 5, South Georgia 4; CF 4, South Georgia 3 (Baseball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:28:00 +0000

Central Florida swept a baseball doubleheader from South Georgia on Saturday at Goodlett Field with a pair of riveting late-inning rallies, claiming 5-4 and 4-3 victories.
CF took the opener after absorbing a 3-run Tigers first inning. Starting pitcher Matt Marsh settled in to hold the visitors scoreless for 5 consecutive innings after the early onslaught, and the Patriot offense responded with a run in the second and two runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings. Derrick Davis had 2 hits and 2 RBI for CF, while Yoenny Gonzalez, Sean Plunkett and Josh Whitchurch drove in a run apiece. Colby Wisdom threw a perfect seventh for the save.

The late game saw a resilient South Georgia squad erase a 2-0 deficit with a 3-run outburst in the seventh and final regulation inning. The Patriots accepted the challenge and replied with 2 runs of their own and a walk-off win. Tomas Rivera plated the deciding run on an errant throw from the outfield after Kevin Games' flyout.

The Patriots (11-6) host CCBC-Dundalk on Monday at 3 pm.

Daytona State 47, CF Lady Patriots 43 (WBB)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:21:00 +0000

Central Florida fell out of contention for a women's basketball FCSAA State Tournament berth Saturday with a 47-43 loss at Daytona State.

The defeat leaves the Lady Patriots (13-15, 4-6 MFC) three games behind 7-3 Hillsborough with two games to play. Daytona, now 9-2, and Hillsborough will fill the MFC's two state tournament berths. CF head coach Cheryl Rice was in pursuit of her 10th consecutive state tournament bid with the Lady Patriots.

Quinnecia Twine led the Lady Patriots with 14 points.

CF returns to Ocala for its final home game on Wednesday, a 6 pm tip against Hillsborough. The contest is CF's Kay Yow Cancer Fund Game; fans are asked to wear pink and donate $1.

CF Hoops Squads Set for Final Postseason Push

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:22:00 +0000

Central Florida opens the final week of Mid-Florida Conference women's and men's basketball play Saturday with a visit to Daytona State. Watch the games live online via PSBLive, starting with the Lady Patriots at 2 p.m.

Here's a look at the ever-heightening stakes:

LADY PATRIOTS: It's not an overstatement to say that this game will define the CF women's basketball season. A loss will end the 4-5 Lady Patriots' hopes of catching 7-3 Hillsborough for second place in the conference standings, putting the MFC's second and final state tournament berth out of reach and spoiling head coach Cheryl Rice's bid for a 10th consecutive postseason trip with CF. At 8-2, first-place Daytona State has already clinched its return trip to Marianna and might be prone to a home-court letdown. While the playoff math is growing very problematic for the Lady Patriots, the only reasonable approach is to string together 3 wins and hope for the best.

PATRIOTS: Fully recovered from their late-January swoon, the defending MFC champions ride a 4-game win streak and a wave of confidence into Daytona. Though 8-2 Santa Fe leads 7-2 CF by a half-game for first place in the conference standings, the Patriots are tied in the loss column and possess the luxury of owning the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over the Saints. In short, CF can clinch a repeat conference title with 3 wins to finish the season. Should the Patriots falter and finish behind Santa Fe, however, they'll have to navigate a dangerous single-elimination tournament to reach the postseason.

CF Patriots 17, CCBC-Catonsville 4 (Baseball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:36:00 +0000

The Central Florida baseball team ran up the highest run total of its season on Friday with a rout of CCBC-Catonsville at Goodlett Field.

Kevin Games picked up the victory on the mound; check out the full box score and play-by-play for the long list of offensive contributors.

The Patriots (9-6) continue the weekend homestand Saturday with a noon doubleheader against South Georgia.

HIllsborough 3, CF Patriots 0; CF 9, Hillsborough 0 (Softball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:13:00 +0000

Central Florida swapped softball shutouts at Hillsborough on Thursday, erasing the sting of an opening 3-0 loss with a forceful 9-0 rout in a 5-inning nightcap.

Hawley Ill picked up her fifth win of the season in the late game, pitching 5 innings of 3-hit ball as the Patriot offense exploded. Hitting standouts included Jessica Lopez (3-for-4, RBI, run); Shelby Mathews (2-3, double, 2 RBI, 2 runs); Sarah Hayes (3-for-3, RBI, run); Ill (hit, walk, 2 RBI); and Miranda Anderson (2-for-4, double, run).

Tori Stamper threw a strong game in defeat in the early game, yielding 1 earned run and 4 hits over 6 innings. Arika Fox went 2-for-2 with a triple.

The Patriots (10-9) continue their road trip at Abraham-Baldwin on Saturday. Their next home game is Feb. 28.

Hawley Ill at the Forefront of CF Softball Resurgence

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:24:00 +0000

There are a number of catalysts to Central Florida's encouraging start to the spring softball season. But Patriot fans who have closely followed the team's 2012 resurgence know the impact of freshman transfer Hawley Ill cannot be overstated.

A freshman from Longwood Lyman High School in the Orlando area, Ill transferred to CF at the holiday break after starting her collegiate career with FCSAA rival Chipola. Early returns suggest that her addition to the roster may have put the team over the top in its quest for a winning campaign.

"Hawley has been a huge pick-up for us far this season," said head coach Kerri Ryskamp, herself a former CF star. "She is what every coach looks for in a player. She comes out to the field, whether in practice or games, and gives 110 percent day in and day out and does it with a positive attitude.

"And she flat out gets the job done and does it well."

The numbers - starting with the Patriots' winning record - back that up.

Even as her workload increases, now reaching 51.1 innings through the season's first three weeks, Ill's earned run average remains microscopic. Her 0.95 ERA ranks eighth in the state, and she's recorded more innings than any of the pitchers ahead of her, predicting that she'll further climb the leaderboard as her competition's sample sizes grow.

The combination of Ill and Tori Stamper, who leads the team with 5 pitching victories, gives the CF offense a chance to win every game.

Remarkably, Ill has played a major role in that aspect, too. Her .385 batting average is first on a team that features three .300 hitters (Kayla Carroll and Jessica Lopez are the others), and her 6 extra-base hits are another team-high.

As March approaches, bringing with it Mid-Florida Conference play and the hunt for an FCSAA State Tournament berth, the CF softball team can feel confident with Ill at the heart of both the Patriot pitching rotation and batting order.

St. Petersburg 2, CF Patriots 1 (Baseball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:13:00 +0000

The Central Florida baseball team took a 2-1 home-field loss to St. Petersburg on Wednesday.

Kevin Games scored Melvin Mercedes with a sixth-inning single for the home team's lone run. The loss squandered a strong effort from pitcher Joe Marotta, who yielded 4 hits and an earned run and struck out 9 Titans over 7.2 innings.

The Patriots (8-6) stay home for the weekend, with a 3 p.m. Friday game against CCBC-Catonsville and a noon Saturday doubleheader versus South Georgia.

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:29:00 +0000

14 CF Alumni Active on the Diamond this Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

No less than 14 recent Patriot baseball and softball standouts are active at the higher levels this season, including two former CF pitchers in the organizations of Major League Baseball teams. Here's the list, with links to their profiles:

MINOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL

Nicholas Avila, Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
Juan Perez, Asheville Tourists (Colorado Rockies)

NCAA BASEBALL

Bradley Goodson, College of Charleston
Andrew Jones, University of Tampa
Shawn Kale, Lynn
Paul Karmeris, North Florida
Cody Lewis, Florida Tech
Charles Neely, St. Leo
Nick Radomski, Flagler
Hunter Smith, Shorter
Jordan Zech, Villanova

NCAA SOFTBALL

Jessica Chewning, Georgia Southwestern
Megan David, North Florida
Megan Still, St. Leo

Stay tuned to CFPatriots.com and the CF Patriots Facebook page for updates on these players' accomplishments throughout the season.

CF Alumni Jones, Kale on Tino Martinez Watch List

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:26:00 +0000

A pair of former Central Florida baseball stars are on the radar for NCAA Division II Player of the Year honors.

Andrew Jones (above), a senior outfielder at the University of Tampa, and Shawn Kale (left), a senior pitcher at Lynn University, are included on the initial watch list for the Tino Martinez Award.

The award, named after the esteemed UT, Olympic and Major League Baseball star, annually recognizes the outstanding baseball student-athlete at the NCAA Division II level.

Jones, the 2010 Mid-Florida Conference Player of the Year with the Patriots, was a first-team All-Sunshine State Conference selection and second-team All-South Region selection as a junior. He posted a .385 batting average and .603 slugging percentage with 6 home runs, 15 doubles, 43 RBI as a Spartans junior last season. Tampa is currently ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division II poll.

Kale, who recovered from a major injury to post 56 strikeouts for CF in 2010, led the Fighting Knights with a 2.32 ERA in 2010. He threw 50.1 innings, posting a 4-2 record with 3 saves while striking out 57 opposing batters.

Local Standout Nelson Signs with CF Softball

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Continuing to add to the program's growing talent base, Central Florida softball coach Kerri Ryskamp has added local prep star Jamie Nelson to the Patriots' 2012-13 recruiting class.

Nelson, a 5-11 pitcher entering her senior season at nearby Belleview High School, headlined the Rattlers' district-championship team as a junior in 2011.

Brevard 4, CF Patriots 3 (Baseball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:01:00 +0000

The Central Florida baseball team came up short on the road Monday, falling to host Brevard 4-3.

The Patriots (8-5) scored all of their runs in the seventh inning, with RBIs coming from Kevin Games and Scott Schaub. Mario Urdaneta and Schaub led the team with 3 hits each on the afternoon.

CF hosts St. Petersburg on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Goodlett Field.

Powell Inks CF's First 2012-13 Volleyball Scholarship

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:29:00 +0000

Central Florida volleyball head coach Flavia Siqueira is putting together the roster that will follow the program's majestic debut season.

The first member of the 2012-13 Patriot volleyball recruiting class is setter Lauren Powell, a two-time All-Hernando County selection at nearby Nature Coast High School. Powell recorded a county-best 828 assists as a senior to go with 217 digs and 57 service aces.

Powell expects to team with returning sophomore setter Jordyn Wright to orchestrate the Patriots' proficient offense next season. Siqueira's first-year squad set the standard remarkably high in 2011, sweeping through the Mid-Florida Conference en route to a seventh-place national finish.

Muo Hits Eight 3-Pointers in Charleston Southern Win

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:33:00 +0000

Fellow Patriot basketball alumni Ricardo Ratliffe and Markeshia Grant get most of the headlines, but former CF sharpshooter and Charleston Southern junior Mathiang Muo is quietly putting together a remarkable season of his own.

Muo on Saturday scored 26 points, including 8 three-pointers and the game's final 2 free throws, as CSU defeated High Point 70-67 to improve to 9-6 in Big South Conference play.

The 6-5 swingman tied the school's record with his outside-shooting display; for the season, he's made 58 three-pointers at a 42 percent clip while averaging a solid 10.3 points per game.

CF Patriots 78, Santa Fe 61 (MBB)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:25:00 +0000

Central Florida earned the most meaningful win of its Mid-Florida Conference men's basketball season on Saturday with a 78-61 victory over visiting Santa Fe.

With a homecoming crowd in attendance and the nemesis Saints on the other bench, the Patriots turned in a spirited performance that left them tied with Santa Fe atop the MFC standings and clinched the season series over their I-75 archrivals.

The Patriots went up by 10 at halftime, saw their lead all but erased early in the second half and restored a double-digit edge with 13 minutes to play. Eugene McCrory's vicious fast-break dunk and Brian Pace's 3-pointer stretched the lead to 63-46 midway through the half.

Hunter Williams scored 15 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, to lead the Patriots. Pace scored 13, Christian Martinez added 12 and Jeremiah Eason and Eugene McCrory posted 10 apiece to give CF five double-figure scorers.

With the win, CF (20-7, 7-2 MFC) takes over the inside track for the conference title and the automatic FCSAA State Tournament that comes with it. If the Patriots and Saints finished tied, both teams will advance to Marianna, with CF as the MFC's champion and top seed thanks to its 2-1 head-to-head season advantage. Should one team finish in first place outright, that team will advance directly and the other will be relegated to a single-elimination play-in tournament for the conference's other postseason spot.

The FCSAA No. 6 Patriots have handed the No. 2 Saints their only two conference losses.

Now in control of its own fate, CF enjoys a week off before a Saturday visit to Daytona State. Its final home game is Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m. against St. Johns River. The season concludes Feb. 25 at FSC-Jacksonville.

CF Lady Patriots 78, Santa Fe 67, 2OT (WBB)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:32:00 +0000

Archrivals Central Florida and Santa Fe staged an instant classic women's basketball game on Saturday night at CF. The epic struggle ended with the host Lady Patriots, celebrating homecoming and clinging to its playoff hopes, outlasting the Lady Saints 78-67 in double overtime. (Watch the game in its entirety at PSBLive.)

The Lady Patriots opened a 5-0 lead before falling behind and entering the halftime locker room trailing 26-23. The Lady Saints applied more pressure in the second half, pushing their advantage as high as 49-37.

Quinnecia Twine's transition 3-pointer with 5:30 to play completed CF's methodical comeback and tied the game at 49. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Nikarre Sesler and Taylor Broadnax each hitting clutch jumpers to tie the game in the final 2 minutes and TiChina Mitchell's driving bucket with 21 seconds to play forcing overtime at 57-57.

Briana Gibson put the Lady Patriots in front in overtime with a three-point play off a nifty jump hook in the lane, putting CF ahead 62-61 with 3 minutes to play. Gibson gave CF the lead again with 20 seconds remaining, dropping in a layup off Twine's fast-break dish.

Santa Fe drew a foul with 6.4 seconds to play, converted the first to tie the game at 64 and missed the second free throw. CF's urgent drive for a game-winner off the rebound failed to yield a shot attempt before the buzzer, and the marathon game proceeded to a second overtime.

Breaking the pattern of scraping back from deficits, CF scored the first 8 points of the second overtime session, holding the Lady Saints scoreless until the 2:17 mark. The Lady Patriots secured the win with a productive parade to the free-throw line. CF outscored Santa Fe in the second overtime 14-3.

Five Lady Patriots scored in double figures, led by Twine's game-high 19. Gibson and Mitchell scored 17 apiece, Broadnax had 13 and Sesler added 12.

The game was a matchup of two of the MFC's three FCSAA State Tournament representatives from a season ago. Both are in danger of missing the postseason this year, as the MFC will send just two squads to Marianna, and Daytona State and upstart Hillsborough have pulled ahead in the conference standings. Saturday's victory keeps CF mathematically in the running to extend its season.

The Lady Patriots (13-14, 4-5 MFC) have Wednesday off, then travel to front-running Daytona State on Saturday, Feb. 18. Their next and final home game is Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 5:30 p.m. against Hillsborough.

That Feb. 22 game is CF's Kay Yow Cancer Fund Game; fans are asked to wear pink and donate $1 each to benefit the worthy cause.

Polk 9, CF Patriots 6; Polk 5, CF 3 (Softball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Central Florida saw a series of comebacks go for naught Saturday as visiting Polk completed a doubleheader softball sweep by scores of 9-6 and 5-3.
Playing the first of two scheduled 7-inning games, the Patriots trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the seventh, scored twice to extend the game, and fell behind 4-2 entering the bottom of the eighth. Kayla Carroll's sacrifice fly scored Chandler Bridges, and Morgan Stinnett followed with a solo home run to force a ninth inning. The Eagles scored 5 in the ninth to claim victory.

Hawley Ill went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in the late game. Shelby Mathews had 2 hits, a double and an RBI.

The Patriots (9-8) now embark on a prolonged road trip; their next home is Feb. 28.

Indian River 6, CF Patriots 5; CF 2, Indian River 1 (Baseball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:58:00 +0000

Central Florida earned a split in a noon showdown with fellow top-10 team Indian River on Saturday, winning the day's late game 2-1 behind a furious sixth-inning rally. The Pioneers took the opener 6-5.

Pitcher Darren Fischer threw
a complete-game gem to
pace CF's late-game win over
Indian River on Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 in the sixth of the nightcap and facing a sweep of the two scheduled seven-inning games, CF sent its partisan crowd home happy with a riveting go-ahead flurry of hits. Scott Schaub's triple scored Justin Burgess from first base, then Schaub scored on a sacrifice fly by Sean Plunkett to put the Patriots up by the final margin, 2-1

Staff ace Darren Fischer finished off his complete-game performance with a perfect seventh, including 2 strikeouts. Fischer yielded 4 hits and an unearned run while striking out 5 batters as the fifth-ranked Patriots earned a split with the sixth-ranked Pioneers.

Kevin Games' 3-run home run in the fourth inning provided the bulk of the offensive output for CF in the early loss. The shot came an inning after Sean Plunkett's deep double plated Christian Coburn to put the home team on the board. Melvin Mercedes scored on a wild pitch in the sixth for CF's final run.

The Patriots (8-4) visit Brevard on Monday, then return to Goodlett to host St. Petersburg on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

CF Patriots 5, South Florida 4 (Baseball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:39:00 +0000

Central Florida picked up an exciting walk-off victory Friday at Goodlett Field, edging South Florida 5-4 on Mario Urdaneta's ninth-inning RBI ground ball.

A series of Panther miscues helped Justin Burgess reach third with one out in the ninth, putting the sophomore in position to dash home on Urdaneta's contact. The run ended a back-and-forth game that saw CF shake off the visitors' 3-run eighth frame with 3 runs of its own over the final two innings.

Freshman Tomas Rivera
threw a perfect ninth inning
Friday to set up CF's
walk-off win.

Josh Whitchurch rapped a leadoff single in the fifth and later scored on Christian Coburn's 2-out infield single, breaking a scoreless tie. The Panthers restored the tie game with a run in the top of the sixth.

CF responded an inning later with a 2-out rally capped by Kevin Games crossing home on a Burgess single. After the Panthers hung up 3 runs in the top of the eighth, Yoenny Gonzalez sparked a 2-run response to tie the game at 4 apiece, driving in Urdaneta with a double and scoring on Melvin Mercedes' base hit.

Reliever Tomas Rivera pitched a perfect ninth inning to set the table for the CF walk-off.

The Patriots (7-3) host Indian River for a noon doubleheader Saturday.

CF Gears Up for Four-Sport Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:28:00 +0000

Each February, the seasons of four of Central Florida's five sports overlap. CF's men's and women's basketball teams enter the stretch run of Mid-Florida Conference play, while Patriot baseball and softball get their spring seasons off the ground. This convergence occasionally yields events like the approaching Saturday, when all four active CF squads are in action at home on the same day.

Saturday represents 2012's only opportunity to see four Patriot teams in action, at home, on the same day, with the added benefit of CF's basketball homecoming festivities. Here's a look at the action:

Baseball: CF v. Indian River, Noon

The Patriot baseball teams continues to tune up for the fast-approaching conference season with a face-off against fellow ranked opponent Indian River. No. 5 CF tests its revamped pitching staff and sophomore-heavy batting order against the No. 6 Pioneers in a pair of 7-inning games.

Softball: CF v. Polk, 1 pm

A rejuvenated CF softball program looks to continue its winning ways as Polk visits for a doubleheader of 7-inning showdowns. The Patriots split a doubleheader at Polk last week, and will look to continue the momentum of their 9-6 start as they look ahead to conference play and a run at the state tournament.

Women's Basketball: CF v. Santa Fe, 5:30 pm

The traditional power struggle between the I-75 women's basketball rivals has been muted this year with the emergence of upstarts Hillsborough and FSC-Jacksonville. Hillsborough and Daytona State, at 6-2 each, occupy the inside lanes in the race for the MFC's two state tournament spots, with FSC-J on the outside at 4-4. That leaves 3-5 CF in full-on chase mode, and 1-7 Santa Fe reduced to a pure spoiler. With a win over the dangerous Lady Saints, the Lady Patriots can again fight off the mathematics that threaten head coach Cheryl Rice's nine-year postseason streak.

Men's Basketball: CF vs. Santa Fe, 7:30 pm

A suitable main event to Saturday's impressive card. The Saints have recovered from their conference-opening loss at CF with a 7-game win streak, including a Gainesville victory over the Patriots, and ascension to No. 2 in the state rankings. The sixth-ranked Patriots, meanwhile, are just a game behind at 6-2 and harbor the memory of their January win over the Saints.

The stakes could scarcely be higher: an outright winner of the MFC goes directly to the state tournament, relegating the also-rans to a single-elimination for the conference's other spot. Should CF and Santa Fe end the season tied, both will advance to Marianna, but the conference crown will go to the winner of the three-game head-to-head season series, which will be decided by Saturday's game.

In short, a win puts the Patriots in first place with a tiebreaker in their pocket; a loss all but dooms them to at least one play-in game. Again, a deserving main event for an epic day of CF athletics.

CF Patriots 71, FSC-Jacksonville 57 (MBB)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:37:00 +0000

Central Florida made quick work of visiting FSC-Jacksonville on Wednesday, picking up a valuable 71-57 Mid-Florida Conference win and setting up a homecoming showdown with archrival Santa Fe.

CF cruised to an 8-2 lead in the opening 2 minutes and led at halftime. A chippy second half saw the Stars scratch their way to within 7 in the final minutes before a poised CF team closed out.

Point guard Hunter Williams scored a game-high 24 points, making 3 of 5 attempts from 3-point range and 7 of 8 free throws. Eugene McCrory scored 18 points and Jeremiah Eason added 10 to join Williams in double figures.

The Patriots (19-7, 6-2 MFC) can make up ground on conference-leading Santa Fe on Saturday when the Saints visit for CF's homecoming festivities. The critical MFC face-off tips at 7:30 p.m.

CF Lady Patriots 62, FSC-Jacksonville 60 (WBB)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:40:00 +0000

Central Florida pulled off a dramatic comeback victory Wednesday, boosting its women's basketball postseason hopes with a 62-60 win over visiting Mid-Florida Conference rival FSC-Jacksonville. (Watch the broadcast of the game via PSBLive.)

The visitors built their lead as high as seven in the second half. But Quinnecia Twine's 3-pointer with 6:10 to play cut the Lady Stars' lead to two at 54-52, and her pull-up transition jumper 3 minutes later cut it to 58-57. Backcourt mate Taylor Broadnax finally put the home team on top with a baseline jumper with 2:13 to play.

After a Lady Stars bucket reclaimed the lead for the visitors, sophomore forward Briana Gibson tied the score at 60 with a free throw and Nikarre Sesler grabbed the crucial offensive rebound off of Gibson's errant second attempt. TiChina Mitchell beat the shot-clock buzzer on the possession with an urgent drive to the basket and the game-winning hoop with 20 seconds to play.

Late-game hero Mitchell posted a game-high 19 points alongside 7 rebounds, while Twine added 15 and Gibson 11 points and 8 rebounds.

The Lady Patriots (12-14, 3-5 MFC) revived their flagging postseason aspirations with the victory. They host last-place Santa Fe on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as part of CF's homecoming festivities.

CF Patriots 4, St. Petersburg 1; St. Pete 10, CF 1 (Softball)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Broome) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:58:00 +0000

Central Florida continued its early-season softball success Wednesday with a 4-1 defeat of visiting St. Petersburg. The Titans claimed the second half of the doubleheader 10-1.

Tori Stamper allowed just 2 hits and an unearned run while striking out 6 in a complete-game win.

The Patriots scored all 4 of their runs in the fourth inning. Jessica Lopez reached on an error, stole second and scored on Chandler Bridges' double. After Hawley Ill drew a walk, Miranda Anderson laced a 2-out single to score Bridges. Shelby Mathews capped the big inning with another 2-out single, scoring Ill and Anderson.

CF (9-6) hosts Polk on Saturday at 1 p.m.